City of Mount Vernon, New York  
1 ROOSEVELT SQ. RM. 104  
CITY HALL, MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK 10550  
& VIA FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTVERNONNY  
Meeting Minutes  
Tuesday, January 20, 2026  
4:00 PM  
MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM - 1st FLOOR  
Board of Estimate & Contract  
NICOLE BONILLA, MBA  
City Clerk  
JORDAN RIULLANO, JD  
Deputy City Clerk  
Call to Order: At 4:00 PM by Chairwoman Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard  
Roll Call and reading of agenda items administered by City Clerk Nicole Bonilla.  
Noticed in the Journal News.  
Roll Call:  
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Darren Morton, and Council President  
Derrick Thompson  
PRESENT  
None  
ABSENT  
Chief of Staff Malcolm Clark, Asst. Corporation Counsel Johan Powell, Deputy City  
Clerk Jordan A. Riullano, Assistant Comptroller Condell Hamilton  
OTHERS:  
ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGENDA  
RESOLUTIONS APPROVING ORDINANCES  
1.  
Code:  
LPW  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: Madam Mayor, can you explain the necessity of this trip  
Mayor Patterson - Howard: Explains the Necessity of the trip and how she sits on the NYCOM  
board and the meeting will focus on water infrastructure, meet with state representatives and  
advocate for the needs of their municipalities.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
2.  
Code:  
LPW  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: Explains the registration fee.  
Council President Thompson: Can you further explain the "not to exceed" costs.  
Mayor Patterson - Howard: I serve as a trustee and serve on a number of committees and will be  
speaking on three panels and discussed the topics. I will need a detail list of last years education  
and travel line from the Comptroller's Office.  
Comptroller Morton: Discussed how important it is for the city to be represented because we  
have to be in the room in order to advocate for the city. But explained that he will be asking the  
tough questions because the travel line only has $60,000 for all departments.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
3.  
Code:  
LPW  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: Is this a budget transfer in the beginning of the year.  
Deputy Comptroller Hamilton: This is for the fiscal year 2025. We legislated for the software in  
April and they received the bill for the software in November and this missed the last meeting.  
Comptroller Morton: so this should have been encumbered after the legislation.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
4.  
Code:  
LPW  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: This is probably the first time adopting the budget as a request  
from the auditors and all the documentation that we adopt include ARP (American Rescue Plan)  
budget and any capital budgets we develop going forward. As we do adopt their salary  
resolutions, we should adopt their budget as well.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
5.  
Code:  
LPW  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
6.  
7.  
8.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: Thanks assemblyman Pretlow for working with the  
department.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
None  
Aye:  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: Retro with the county is normal and more of these will come  
even after the program is over. We will use the award letter as a promissory note.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
None  
Aye:  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
9.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
Motion to take items #10 - 11 as a block vote  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
take items as block vote  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
10.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
11.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved the Consent Agenda  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
Aye:  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
12.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
13.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: happy to be in collaboration with Toss N Press and they  
are opening another location.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
Aye:  
None  
None  
Nay:  
Absent:  
Motion to take Items #14-15 as a block vote  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
take items as block vote  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
14.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Mayor Patterson - Howard, Seconded by Council President Thompson  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
15.  
Code:  
HR  
Attachments:  
Moved: Mayor Patterson - Howard, Seconded by Council President Thompson  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Moved: Mayor Patterson - Howard, Seconded by Council President Thompson  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved the Consent Agenda  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
Aye:  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
16.  
Code:  
PSC  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: explained the history of moving the auxiliary police  
department from Police Department to Office of Emergency Management (OEM)  
Comptroller Morton: What is the function of the Auxiliary Police.  
Mayor SPH: explained historically that auxiliary police have been used as crowd control for  
events and keeping the peace but now they are aiding in disasters the city has been having. Now  
they are getting their peace officer status and do basic VCO's.  
Comptroller Morton: an idea would be to bring in the office of neighborhood safety and  
engagement  
take items as block vote  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
17.  
Code:  
PSC  
Attachments:  
Mayor Patterson - Howard: maybe an encumbrance issue. We approved for the fire academy  
budget transfer when we did not have an extra fire academy.  
Comptroller Morton: My issue is that the overtime is very high  
Deputy Comptroller Hamilton: We did an initial transfer for the 10 new firefighters, but we did  
not include the uniform and equipment to cover those additional firefighters.  
Comptroller Morton: how are we pulling funds from the salary line?  
DC Hamilton: I spoke with payroll on the mis-categorization for the retirees  
Comptroller: Is there a bill?  
DC Hamilton: yes  
Comptroller Morton: okay, ill approve the payments for now and will approve to do the transfer  
at another meeting.  
held  
18.  
Code:  
PSC  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
19.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
20.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: as long as we get CDBG funding, these positions will be  
grant funded and they are required.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
21.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
22.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
23.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: Its important to attend these conferences; we pay $5K for  
membership and have received monies from them to fund projects.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
24.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Mayor Patterson - Howard: explained the Mount Vernon financial empowerment  
center. IT is free for Mount Vernon residence regardless of income.  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
25.  
Code:  
FP  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
SALARY RESOLUTIONS  
26.  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
27.  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Aye:  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
28.  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING PARTIAL PAYMENTS - DPW  
29.  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response:  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Aye:  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
30.  
Attachments:  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
On the question: none.  
Response: Comptroller Morton: What is the reimbursement time?  
Deputy Comptroller Hamilton: It is HUD (Housing Urban Development), it is a 3 month  
turnaround.  
approved  
Aye:  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
Agenda was concluded at 5:47 PM.  
Chairwoman Patterson-Howard asked if there was new business:  
Mayor Patterson - Howard: Discussed multiple awarded grants and expanding the Deputy  
Commissioner job title.  
Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn.  
Moved: Council President Thompson, Seconded by Comptroller Morton  
approved  
Mayor Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Morton, and Council President  
Thompson  
Aye:  
None  
Nay:  
None  
Absent:  
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:57 PM.  
Jordan Riullano, JD  
Deputy City Clerk